League Receives High Honor for Its Support of National Guard and Reserve Employees

The League of Minnesota Cities received the 2024 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest U.S. government honor for employers supporting National Guard and Reserve employees. The League was one of only 15 employers nationwide to earn this recognition.

Nominated by Patrick Arneson, a litigation attorney and U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate, the League was praised for its support of Guard and Reserve members. Arneson highlighted the League’s flexible work policies, allowing service obligations to be met and enabling military members to serve in high-responsibility roles. Arneson’s nomination was selected from 1,758 entries.

The League of Minnesota Cities was honored at a Pentagon ceremony and recognized locally at the Minnesota State Fair and during the Minnesota Twins’ Armed Forces Appreciation Day.

“At the League, we proudly support our military employees because we recognize the important skills and experiences they bring to the table,” said LMC Executive Director Luke Fischer. “Their leadership, resilience, and commitment to service align perfectly with our organizational values. Embracing our service members’ talents enhances our organization and helps drive our success.”

Mayor for a Day Essay Contest Submissions Due Dec. 13

The League of Minnesota Cities’ 12th Annual Mayor for a Day Essay Contest is back! To enter, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders can answer the question, “What would you do if you were mayor for a day?” for a chance to win $100 and recognition in Minnesota Cities magazine. League staff are inviting cities that would like to provide additional local recognition to contest entrants to send a message to [email protected] before the essay submission deadline of Dec. 13.

Following the completion of judging in January, cities that express interest will be sent any essays submitted by students who live in their city. Your local recognition could include selection of a citywide winner by your city team, recognition of all local students who participated, outreach to a participating class, or something else that helps inspire future city leaders. More information and submission materials are available at lmc.org/mayorforaday.

LMC Members Approve Fiscal Year Change

At the League of Minnesota Cities’ annual business meeting on June 27, members voted in favor of adopting changes to the LMC constitution and bylaws, including a measure to align the fiscal year with the calendar year.

Under the approved changes to the constitution, the League’s fiscal year will change to Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 to align with the calendar year. This change will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026.

The League’s current fiscal year goes from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31. To account for the change in timing, fiscal year 2025 will be spread over 16 months instead of 12 months.

Members will receive two membership dues invoices: one in September 2024 in an amount equal to four months of expenses, and a second invoice in January 2025 to cover the next 12 months. Starting in 2026, members will receive one annual invoice each January.

Kandiyohi Fire Department Donates Pumper to New Fire Department in Mexico

The Kandiyohi Fire Department has donated its 36-year-old pumper truck, affectionately known as “Old Number 2,” to a newly established volunteer fire department in Mexico. Kandiyohi Fire Chief Jamie Swanson explained to JP Cola of Lakeland Media that the truck, originally purchased from the Willmar Fire Department in 2019, was no longer needed after acquiring a newer pumper.

Unable to sell the truck, Swanson contacted retired Willmar firefighters Warren and Jan Jorgenson, who now reside in the Mexican state of Baja California. They connected Swanson with the El Centenario Fire Department, which was in need of equipment.

With the help of the Raymond, Clara City, Milan, Kerkhoven, and Willmar fire departments, as well as Alex Air Apparatus and Pro Color Graphics, Old Number 2 was loaded with firefighting gear. The truck was transported to California, where it went through customs, crossed the border, and reached its final destination, 3,000 miles from Kandiyohi.

During the interview with Lakeland Media, Swanson extended a thank you from the fire department to the City of Kandiyohi and the fire board members from the townships of Kandiyohi and Green Lake who supported this donation.

First Harvest Comes to a Close at New ADA-Accessible Community Garden in Red Wing

The first crops in Red Wing’s new ADA-accessible community garden have been harvested.

The garden was the vision of Marti Pierce, a Red Wing resident with a passion for gardening and volunteering. After suffering a debilitating fall, Pierce saw the need for an accessible garden for people with disabilities, enabling them to enjoy gardening without the physical barriers of traditional plots, according to Alyssa Malyon, writing for the Republican Eagle.

Pierce partnered with the Pier 55 Red Wing Area Seniors and received grants from Live Well Goodhue County and the Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation to fund the project. The city’s public works department installed the necessary infrastructure, including pavement and fences.

The 40-by-40-foot space was designed to meet ADA accessibility guidelines. The garden includes wheelchair-accessible raised beds and a variety of gardening heights to accommodate gardeners of all abilities. Community members welcomed the new space by renting all gardening plots during the 2024 growing season.